how to get more light to a plant
- Thread starter Aussiee
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CaptainDastardly
Member
You can get Mylar wrapping paper (looks like a tinfoil plastic mix sort of) at most Dollar Stores that sell wrapping paper. The pieces are often small..20x20 inches or so...but you can tape them together and whatnot to fill a room cheaply. White paint or even white poster board are good to reflect back some of your lighting as well...if you use paint, don't paint with your plants in the room though, and wait for it to air out before putting them back in.
As for side lighting, you can go to any WalMart or similar store and buy CFL bulbs...they usually call them energy saver bulbs and give 2 wattage ratings..like, the 23 watt CFLs often say "Equivalent of 100W". They also tend to look like corkscrews a bit. (When choosing these, go with actual wattage, not equivalent wattage. You'll want a minimum of 50 actual watts per plant...but that includes whatever main light you are using.)
These will also usually have a rating like...2700K, 6500K, etc. The 6500K or around there is good for veg state, and the 2700K tend to be better for flowering, due to the colors of light they emit.
CFLs are great for side lighting because you can get them so close without burning anything, unlike a HID which would probably set your plants on fire if you put them 1 inch away. If you don't mind wiring them up yourself, you can go get an extension cord (a 16/2 would work fine even if you wired 20 or more of them to the same cord (23 watts * 20bulbs = 460w. 460w @ 120 volts is pulling an amperage of a bit over 4 amps. Your average line in your house should be rated for 15 amps (safer to only use 13 though) if you live in the states. Such an extension cord as I described is also rated for 13 amp usually....check before you buy it though) , though be sure to keep in mind what you are already pulling through the same circuit, if anything.
As for side lighting, you can go to any WalMart or similar store and buy CFL bulbs...they usually call them energy saver bulbs and give 2 wattage ratings..like, the 23 watt CFLs often say "Equivalent of 100W". They also tend to look like corkscrews a bit. (When choosing these, go with actual wattage, not equivalent wattage. You'll want a minimum of 50 actual watts per plant...but that includes whatever main light you are using.)
These will also usually have a rating like...2700K, 6500K, etc. The 6500K or around there is good for veg state, and the 2700K tend to be better for flowering, due to the colors of light they emit.
CFLs are great for side lighting because you can get them so close without burning anything, unlike a HID which would probably set your plants on fire if you put them 1 inch away. If you don't mind wiring them up yourself, you can go get an extension cord (a 16/2 would work fine even if you wired 20 or more of them to the same cord (23 watts * 20bulbs = 460w. 460w @ 120 volts is pulling an amperage of a bit over 4 amps. Your average line in your house should be rated for 15 amps (safer to only use 13 though) if you live in the states. Such an extension cord as I described is also rated for 13 amp usually....check before you buy it though) , though be sure to keep in mind what you are already pulling through the same circuit, if anything.
DoeEyed
Well-Known Member
In which case, your question doesn't really make sense. Whatever you have in mind - do skip the foil, use mylar, instead.
CaptainDastardly
Member
Hmmm, I think I just understood what you were saying in your second post...you are an outdoor grower, looking for a way to get more light?
If so, you could still use lights, though you'll have to take extra precautions to make them waterproof.
Tin foil /might/ actually work for you outside if you live in a windy area...but the problem with it is that it reflects unevenly and tends to condense light instead of diffusing it...so you get hotspots. (Think along the lines of burning ants with a magnifying glass)
You might also get a bit more by putting some reflectors on the ground around it, angled up toward the plant...like in this ascii diagram...
\\plant//
Okay, its a poor diagram, but you get my point I hope.
I'm not sure this will help though...because plants don't really do much in the way of light gathering with the undersides of their leaves. You might have to play with the angles to try and get the light to get in there well...and in the end it might be a lot of wasted effort. Hard to say really without being there and knowing all the conditions. Can't say that I have ever worried about "more light" during an outdoor grow...just "not getting caught" was enough for me.
If so, you could still use lights, though you'll have to take extra precautions to make them waterproof.
Tin foil /might/ actually work for you outside if you live in a windy area...but the problem with it is that it reflects unevenly and tends to condense light instead of diffusing it...so you get hotspots. (Think along the lines of burning ants with a magnifying glass)
You might also get a bit more by putting some reflectors on the ground around it, angled up toward the plant...like in this ascii diagram...
\\plant//
Okay, its a poor diagram, but you get my point I hope.
I'm not sure this will help though...because plants don't really do much in the way of light gathering with the undersides of their leaves. You might have to play with the angles to try and get the light to get in there well...and in the end it might be a lot of wasted effort. Hard to say really without being there and knowing all the conditions. Can't say that I have ever worried about "more light" during an outdoor grow...just "not getting caught" was enough for me.
I
Illegal Smile
Guest
A sheet of plywood painted flat white. Put it so the most sun hits it and reflects back to the plant.